No funds, but DMRC to start work for second phase of Ghaziabad Metro

GHAZIABAD: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is all set to start the second phase work of Dilshad Garden-New Bus Station Metro line from next month though the agency is facing a cash crunch. According to DMRC officials, they have received only Rs 440 crore from GDA so far, which would be enough for this month only.

The second stage work on the 9.4-km Metro line involves construction of eight stations, electrification work and laying of railway tracks. These works will commence from the first week of November,” said a DMRC spokesperson.

“In the first stage, nearly 325 pillars have been constructed out of the total 400. The rest of the pillars will be completed soon,” he added.

According to the spokesperson, it is the job of the GDA to make available the funds.“Till now, we have received only Rs 440 crore from GDA though by this time we should have got Rs 1,484 crore,” he said. “Our coffers are drying up and with the amount available, we will be able to carry on work till this month only. However, we plan to meet GDA officials soon in this regard,” he said.

The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 2,210 crore. The GDA is required to contribute Rs 695.8 crore, out of which it has paid Rs 340 crore. The UP Housing Board has paid only Rs 50 crore from its share of Rs 440.45 crore while UPSIDC has paid just Rs 3.30 crore from its Rs 97 crore share. The Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation has till date not paid a single penny out of its Rs 246.35 crore share. The remaining amount is to be contributed by the Union government.

The Metro line on the busy Grand Trunk Road connecting Ghaziabad with Delhi will be the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's second extension into Ghaziabad after the Yamuna Bank-Vaishali section.